UPDATE: I called FSA using the advice here and they confirmed it was just an automated security alert because I viewed the SAI calculation section. They said they're working on updating the email template to be less alarming. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a relief to read! My son is a senior this year and I've been helping him navigate the FAFSA process. I got one of these scary emails last week after just checking his application status and spent hours worrying that someone had hacked into his account. It's really frustrating that they use such alarming language - "information was changed" makes it sound like someone unauthorized accessed the account. I'm glad to know this is a common issue and that the Department of Education is supposedly working on fixing the wording. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to the financial aid office worker who provided the professional insight!

Don't forget to have your son apply for private scholarships too!!! There are TONS of scholarships specifically for students whose parents have medical disabilities or hardships. Check with local community foundations, your employer, religious organizations, etc. My daughter got a $3000 scholarship from a local rotary club that specifically helps families dealing with medical crises. The financial aid office should be able to point you toward some resources!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - dealing with a work injury AND trying to navigate financial aid is incredibly stressful. As someone who's been through a similar situation, I want to encourage you that Professional Judgment appeals really do work when you have legitimate circumstances like yours. A few additional tips based on my experience: 1. When documenting your medical expenses, don't forget to include related costs like mileage to appointments, medical equipment, prescription copays, and any modifications you've had to make to your home due to your injury. 2. Get a letter from your workers comp attorney (if you have one) documenting the disputed claims and timeline - this helps show the financial aid office that the denials aren't due to lack of medical necessity. 3. If your husband is working extra shifts, get documentation from his employer showing the increase in hours/income - this demonstrates your family is already doing everything possible to address the financial shortfall. 4. Contact your son's school's financial aid office directly and ask to speak with someone who handles Professional Judgment appeals. Many schools have specific staff who specialize in these cases and can walk you through their exact requirements. Don't give up! I've seen families get their SAI reduced significantly through these appeals. Your son's education is worth fighting for, and schools want to help students in genuine need stay enrolled.

Excellent troubleshooting! This is exactly why verifying all the basics is so important with the new FAFSA system. Those

Glad you got it working! Just wanted to add that for anyone still struggling with this - if you're close to your school's priority deadline and the parent invitation still isn't working after trying all these fixes, you can submit your FAFSA without the parent information first, then add your parent as a contributor later. It's not ideal but at least you'll meet the deadline. Your school's financial aid office can help you update it once the technical issues are resolved. Better to have an incomplete FAFSA submitted on time than miss the deadline entirely!

If he already completed entrance counseling and signed an MPN at his previous school, he typically wouldn't need to redo them. The MPN is usually good for 10 years of continuous education. However, some schools do request a new entrance counseling session specific to their institution. I'd suggest checking his studentaid.gov account - it will show the status of his MPN and entrance counseling.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this conversation incredibly helpful! I'm going through a similar situation with my daughter who's also a transfer student. The confusion around different school portals is so real - it's like every institution has their own secret language for financial aid. One thing that worked for us was actually going to the financial aid office in person if possible. Sometimes the staff can walk you through their specific system much faster than trying to figure it out online. Also, if your son's school has a student success center or academic advising, they often know the ins and outs of the financial aid portal too and might be less busy than the main financial aid office. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here - it's reassuring to know we're not the only ones struggling with these systems!

Quick update if you're still checking this thread: The Department of Education just announced that 2024-2025 Parent PLUS loan applications will open on June 3rd this year. You can find this information on their official Twitter/X account. Mark your calendar!

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I was in the exact same boat and the waiting was torture! But once June rolled around and the application opened, everything moved pretty smoothly. One tip: make sure you apply for the full amount you need because you can't easily increase it later if you underestimate. Also, if your daughter's school uses a third-party payment plan service, you might be able to set up a temporary payment plan to bridge the gap until the PLUS loan disburses. My daughter's school worked with Nelnet Campus Commerce and they were pretty understanding about the timing issue. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this frustrating process!